Existing or considered only on the surface; not thorough, deep, or detailed.
“Critics argue the study only offers a superficial analysis of long-term economic effects.”
“The report's superficial treatment of the issue failed to address community concerns in detail.”
Authors use 'superficial' to criticize an opposing argument for lacking depth, a common way to weaken the other side's position in Reading Part 4. Spotting this word helps you identify which viewpoint the passage treats as less credible or under-researched.
Synonyms: shallow, surface-level, cursory